While it may seem unlikely, it is true that some horse owners are unaware of the potential danger involved in putting a horse up at auction.

 

While the hope, or assumption, is that one's horse or pony will be purchased by a kindly owner, there always exists the risk that the buyer may in fact be a kill buyer. Auctions are a kill buyer's hunting grounds, and horses at local auctions are at just as much risk as those at New Holland Horse Auction in New Holland, PA -- the largest horse auction east of the Mississippi.

Kill buyers are not, contrary to popular opinion, interested in the old, lame, sick horses (although they may take them) but rather they are looking for young, healthy and well fed horses. And when they leave the auctions their destination is Canada or Mexico and the horse slaughter houses in each of those countries.

The following articles discuss auctions and the auction/kill buyer connection.

 

Habitat for Horses :The Horse Slaughter Arguments

 

Habitat For Horses: New Holland Horse -Sale  Site of a Hub Of Controversy

Humane Society of the US: The Facts About Horse Slaughter